"I found your card last night," said Zibeline, "and I have come here this morning to return your call!" Then, leaning back in her driving-seat in order to reveal Edmond Delorme installed beside her, she added: "I have brought also my painter-in-ordinary. We have watched the review together, and he is as enthusiastic as I over the picturesque effect of this improvised bivouac. See! He is so much occupied with his sketch that I can not get a word out of him." It was Aida, whose bridle was held by a dragoon, that served as a model for the artist's pencil. "Will you permit me?" he said to Henri. "It appears decidedly, that my mare has caught your eye," replied the General, approaching the carriage and resting his spurred foot on its step. "She has superb lines," said the painter, without interrupting his drawing. "Well, I am curious to know whether she could beat Seaman," said Zibeline. "Are you willing to run a race with me, General?" "As you please--some morning when you return to the Bois." "You noticed my absence, then?" "I assure you that I did," Henri replied, earnestly. Then, fearing that he had said too much, he added: "I, and many others!" "Good! You were almost making a pretty speech to me, but, as usual, the disavowal was not slow in coming. Fortunately, here comes your friend Lenaieff, who is hastening to make amends to me." "What good fortune to meet you here, Mademoiselle!" cried Constantin, who, having perceived Valentine from a distance, had taken an abrupt leave of his general-in-chief. "I know that you have called to see me several times," said she, "but I was in the country." "So early in the month of April?" "Oh! not to live there. Monsieur de Perolles knows that I have promised to build our Orphan Asylum at a certain distance from Paris, and hardly three weeks remain to me before I must hand over the property. If I am not ready on the day appointed, Monsieur Desvanneaux will be sure to seize my furniture, and I could not invite you any more to dinner, Messieurs! A propos, General, Monsieur de Samoreau has failed in his negotiations. Mademoiselle Gontier refuses to come to recite at my next soiree!" "What necessity is there for you to make her acquaintance?" demanded Henri. "Ah, that is my secret!" During this conversation a hired fiacre, well appointed, had stopped beside the road, and Eugenie Gontier descended from it, inquiring of an officer belonging to the grounds where she could find General de Prerolles. When the officer had pointed out the General to her, she started to walk toward him; but, on seeing her former lover leaning familiarly against the door of Zibeline's carriage, she immediately retraced her steps and quickly reentered her own. "There is no longer any doubt about it!" said Mademoiselle de Vermont, who had been observing Eugenie's movements. "Mademoiselle Gontier has made a fixed resolution to avoid meeting me."